More "Spell of the Sensuous"

Chapter Three
"Most scientists, however, while accepting Darwin's theories, were reluctant to relinquish the assumption of human specialness- the assumption that alone justifies so many of the cultural and research practices to which we have now become accustomed. In earlier centuries we could ascribe our superiority to the dispensation of God, who had "created" us as his representation on earth, or who had bequeathed to humans alone the divine capacity for awareness and intelligence"

This reminded be of a scene from Agnes Gray

"Last summer, he gave me a nest full of young sparrows, and he saw me pulling off their legs and wings, and heads, and never said anything; except that they were nasty things, and I must not let them soil my trousers: end Uncle Robson was there too, and he laughed, and said I was a fine boy.''
But what would your mamma say?

''Oh, she doesn't care! she says it's a pity to kill the pretty singing birds, but the naughty sparrows, and mice, and rats, I may do what I like with. So now, Miss Grey, you see it is NOT wicked.'

.......

Tom next went to tell his mamma. It was not her way to say much on any subject; but, when she next saw me, her aspect and demeanour were doubly dark and chilled.

........

'I am sorry, Miss Grey, you should think it necessary to interfere with Master Bloomfield's amusements; he was very much distressed about your destroying the birds.'

'When Master Bloomfield's amusements consist in injuring sentient creatures,' I answered, ' I think it my duty to interfere.'

'You seemed to have forgotten,' said she, calmly, 'that the creatures were all created for our convenience.'

This, in turn, reminded me of the photography series 'Midway' by Chris Jordan. http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=11